Brown-robed elders belonging to one of some half
dozen offshoots of Buddhism in South Viet Nam join
in prayers for peace on an island in the Mekong. The
founder of their group, Nguyen Than Nam (right), stands
before an immense incense burner with a plastic key, his
symbol of peace, at his waist. In his hand he holds a ball
point pen; he always writes, rather than speaks, his
messages to his followers. They say he has not lain down
for 20 years, and that he lives only on coconut milk.
Nam's nickname, the Coconut Monk, also refers to his
birthplace, Kien Hoa Province-"the land of the coconut
trees." His disciples, called the Coconut People, practice
Buddhism mixed with Christianity. In 1964 Nam erected
his island shrine (below). Its archway rests on a platform
in the shape of North and South Viet Nam, with one pil
lar in each-symbol of reunification. A painting in the
shrine portrays Buddha and Christ side by side.
Last July Nam urged the South Vietnamese Govern
ment to fly him and three members of his family to Hanoi
to arrange a peace conference. He promised that if he
failed, he and his relatives would expose themselves to
death from bombing. His offer was rejected.
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